Greetings Brethren:
Many still wallow in
hate and confusion and throw sticks, bottles, arrows and darts at the
Truth-Seekers. Some come with an age old lie regarding the Chosen. Some come with
Pagan lies regarding images and BURNING the dead inspired by Satan to bring
havoc to the Church.
However there is a
common thread between both of these groups and sub-groups. They both deny
Christ and the resurrection.
“There was once a man
that dismissed the Prophecy of the coming King. Yet the King came and was still
denied. Many among them also helped with the execution of the King.
Meanwhile this same
man sought to give counsel to those who said they accepted the King. Although
they denied the last part of the Book that governed those that accepted the
King they were still approved by many for knowledge about the King and the
message he brought.
But upon Brother
Logic was little debate. How could those that did not believe in the King give
instruction about the King?”
Peace and Love,
Carl Patton writing
for the FreedomJournal September 28, 2003, in the year of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
CREMATION AND THE SPIRIT
PART 7: IS THERE VICTORY IN DEATH FOR
THE BURIED IN THE GRAVE & THE CREMATED/BURNED BODY?
In
the name of God master of the universe, Ruler of the earth.
Greetings Brethren in
the name of our Father God and our Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy
Spirit. Silence means consent. Thus the
silence from numerous Churches of Christ regarding the ungodly use of images
and the practice of Cremation among those in the Lord’s Church means there are
many lost souls among the multitudes. These lost souls duly reject the Bible.
Can you reject the
Bible and also be diligent in many other things that apply to scripture and
God’s laws? Does God teach us to follow some laws and reject others? Can you be
righteous and willfully follow false teaching? How can you know so many things
about the Truth of God and reject the resurrection? Does the rejection of the burial and
resurrection and your own burial and resurrection affect your salvation? Is
there any scripture that teaches that Church leaders have a responsibility to
know the Truth of the Bible? Since the use of images of God, Jesus, Prophets
and Apostles are forbidden in the Bible where did the use and the will to teach
this false doctrine come from? Also since the Bible clearly notes a trip to
Hell for those that cremate the dead where did this false doctrine come from
among those that claim to represent the Lord’s Church?
Is there victory in
death for the buried in the grave and those that are cremated and burned? We
resume with our scripture lesson taken from 1 Corinthians 15.
1 Corinthians 15:54
“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall
have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is
written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Death has no victory
among the righteous. However can you be righteous and Cremated and Burned in
death? The righteous body in the grave is transformed to an immortal
incorruptible being. But what happens to the Cremated and Burned body? Is the
Cremated body transformed to Hell or is it already in Hell? We will now turn to
the Old Testament Book of Isaiah for a further word.
Isaiah 25:8. “He will
swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all
faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth:
for the Lord hath spoken it.”
The unbelief and
disobedience is noted in this verse in their rejection of the Messiah Jesus
Christ. Meanwhile we see the writer Isaiah predicting that all will be called
from the GRAVE. Thus the call from the GRAVE for the righteous and the
unrighteous was predicted by the writer.
Meanwhile this great Truth was demonstrated when Christ arose from the
GRAVE calling a multitude from the GRAVE. But many during this time rejected
Christ and the resurrection. Sadly many still do although that don’t seem to
know or care. Those that believe in the resurrection and the call from the
GRAVE will be able to face death and reap a victory. (Also see: Acts 13:34; 26: 23; Roman 6:9; 1
Corinthians 15:20; Ephesians 4:8; Jude 14 and Hosea 13:14).
Turn with us now to
the Book of Matthew for scripture that note the crucifixion of Christ and the
impending resurrection. Here you will see the prominence of the GRAVE as a
resting place for the Saints.
Matthew 27:52-53.
“And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,”
“And came out of the
graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto
many.”
What does this
scripture mean? Can you truly as a believer still argue that a Cremated body
will be among the righteous? If a body is not placed in a GRAVE where will it
go? For the record God can call our bodies to a spiritual and heavenly state
from anywhere on this earth. However if we willfully BURN our body can we be
called from an ASH DUMP?
We return to our
primary scripture taken from I Corinthians 15.
1 Corinthians
15:55-58. “O death, where is thy sting?” O grave where is thy victory?”
“The sting of death
is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.”
“But thanks be to
God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“Therefore, my
beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of
the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that you labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
There is no sting in
death for those faithful to God. Humankind is responsible for their conduct on
this earth. The ungodly act of CREMATION is forbidden by God. Death does not
end life for the believers. However the willful destruction of the body through
CREMATION is a denial of the resurrection. We should forever seek to grow in
the grace of God. When information about the Truth of the Bible regarding this
subject is brought to those in the Lord’s Church it is rejected without
investigation because they have already accepted and approved a False Doctrine
not based on scripture.
We end this lesson
with: 11 Peter 3:18. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Savor Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen?
Cont. Part 8: The Earthly Body
Peace and Love, Carl
Patton writing for the FreedomJournal August 17, 2003 in the year of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ.
carl@freedomjournalpress.comcastbiz.net